Advent Devotion Week 2 Day 2
Safe in God, Stronghold of Life and Psalm 27:1-4
Week 2, Day 2 of Advent begins with the psalmist as he seeks freedom from enemies and celebrates Jesus' coming. The included scripture, used by the Stirring Up Advent series, inspired the reflection, activity, and closing prayer. Feel free to pick and choose what parts of the devotion, Stronghold of Life, meet your needs today, and enjoy.
Step 1: Read Psalm 27:1-4.
Step 2: Enjoy the Reflection on Psalm 27:1-4 Entitled Stronghold of Life
"One thing I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in his temple" (Psalm 27:4).
The psalmist yearns to live in the house of the Lord, behold the Lord's beauty, and have his questions answered in the Lord's temple. Safety, security, and answers-the psalmist's scene sounds very much like heaven.
Indeed, with the world the psalmist describes, no wonder he seeks safety, security, and answers from God. Enemies assail him, devouring his flesh, an army encamps nearby, and a war rises up against him (Psalm 27:3,4).
The world is not always safe or kind. Of course, most people learn that long before they ever read Psalm 27. Loved ones die from disease, relationships end, debt creeps higher and higher, employment disappears in the blink of an eye, and dreams die with the cruelties of time and physical limitations.
All people know the enemies, armies, and wars fighting against them and robbing them of their hope and faith. Yet the psalmist begins Psalm 27 clinging to his hope in the Lord. "The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid" (Psalm 27:1).
Believers are safe in God. The Lord saves the psalmist, and many others since, from the enemies of life, from the frenzied emptiness of pain, and from the fear of death. The Lord of Life, rising to birth this Advent season, is coming. The Lord is coming.
Safety, security, and answers are coming too. The psalmist describes the Lord as the "stronghold of life" able to keep fear at bay. May all God's beloved children cling to the stronghold of life and be safe in Jesus the Christ. Amen.
Step 3: Advent Prayer Activity
Take several minutes to write down all your enemies, the many elements in your life or the life of your family that breed worry, hurt, and fear.
Visualize yourself in the stronghold of the Lord, whether it's a fortified building, a place where you feel secure, or a vacation spot where it's easiest to feel light and peace.
Take time to pray for one particular concern, asking God for safety, security, and answers in regards to it.
Refuse to let the concern into the fortress or special place surrounding you. If the concern persists, visualize Jesus reaching over the wall to bless the concern, and let it go. Do not fight with it, as that will distract you and give the concern strength.
When you have finished, give thanks to God for being safe in His stronghold.
Step 4: Closing Prayer on Psalm 27:1-4
God of Light, this Advent season grant all who seek freedom from their enemies the protection of your stronghold. May all your beloved children find safety, security, and salvation on your time, and thank you for the Light of Life, Jesus, coming again to our world. Amen.
Other Ideas for Advent Prayer and Devotion
The prayer exercise in step 3 can be expanded over a few days or a week to include all the concerns or "enemies" on the list. Take time with it, as it's easy to tire oneself out in prayer over eagerness for healing or to fix a situation. Also, try praying for a concern again and adding the concluding prayer for a separate devotion.
For other daily Advent devotions, try Advent Devotion Week 2, Day 1. or Advent Devotion, Week 2, Day 3, People of Grass.
SOURCES
Holy Bible. NRSV. Oremus Bible Browser. 2008.
Zimmerman, Mark. Stirring Up Advent. Creative Communications for the Parish. 2008.
Garden Key Light, Dry Tortugas National Park
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